Efficacy of risperidone longterm acting injections (Risperidal Consta) in the treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders: 2-year results of the e-STAR in the Czech and Slovac Republic
Abstract
The autors present 2-years results of e-STAR study (electronic Schizophrenia Treatment Adherence Registry) in the Czech (n=609) and Slovak Republic (n=699). E-STAR is an multicenter, observational study, focusing on prospective evaluation of the treatment with risperidone long-acting injection (RLAI) in routine clinical praxis.
RLAI is the first antipsychotic of the second generation available in this formulation. Results from Czech and Slovak Republics are very similar.
Our data have confirmed a high adherence to the treatment. RLAIs were given mostly after a long-term duration of illness in relatively low doses without titration.
In spite of this a significant decrease of concomitant medication and a decrease of the illness severity was observed. Further, a significant improvement of patients''functioning was found.
During the study 20-25% of patients have been hospitalized, which is corresponding with literature data in adherent patients. Our results support the idea, that new formulations of the second generation antipsychotics present an important advancement in the treatment of psychoses.